An interfaith delegation was set up and visited the Kahna Nau area near Lahore, Punjab province, Pakistan. The leader of the group is Fr. Lazar Aslam, a Franciscan priest (OFM). The group also consists of Pastor Asif Ehsan Khokar, Islamic scholar Mufti Syed Ashif Hussain, and Chaudhry Kamran Pervez, president of the Punjab National Peace Committee.

Their visit aimed to foster harmony, promote inter-religious dialogue and peaceful coexistence, and ease the tension recently rising in the area. In early November, a troubled young man belonging to the local Christian community, struggling with drug addiction and mental problems, started a fire and ended up burning down his house. Accidentally, in the fire, pages of the Bible and Quran were destroyed.

The incident triggered anger in the local religious community, and some young Muslim men were threatened with violence, which caused fear among local Christians. But this time, local religious leaders and the police intervened, and the spread of hate and violence was stopped in time.

The visit of the interfaith delegation is another sign that the Christian and Muslim communities are committed to interreligious dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

“Continued cooperation between religious communities in Pakistan is essential for lasting harmony. As Franciscans, we continue to work for peace through dialogue, convinced that this is the path to true harmony. In this time of Advent, a spiritual time of trusting prayer and peace, we want to show, united, to the local Christians our closeness, testifying that mutual respect between Muslims and Christians is essential for the good of Pakistan,”

said Fr. Aslam in an interview with Fides.

The Muslim members of the delegation agreed that:

“Only peaceful coexistence will guarantee a prosperous and harmonious future for Pakistan.”

The delegation confirmed that they will continue working to achieve peace between religious groups by promoting interfaith dialogue, respect, and harmony in Punjab.

Source: Agenzia Fides